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Hi guys.  Good to be somewhat back after a year and 3 month absence due to surgery gone wrong.  Lots of things I have issues with physically, but nothing to deter my love of gear and music.

I've checked thru my Sunn informational file, but did not find an answer to a current guestion that I have.

I looking for some sort of way to identify the approximate change in style of the speaker cab logo thru the years.  That's the only that I don't a good handle at the moment.  Any helpers that can get me up tp speed on this will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

Oren Hudson 

Up for sale is my 1971 1200s in very good condition. 8 & 4 ohm outputs. The only cosmetic issues are a few knicks in the Tolex and the power transformer which worked loose from its bolts when shipped to me, and has thus been re-secured. Doesn't change the way it sounds, and the transformer is now firmly held to the chassis. There is also a split in the block that the back plate screws to, but the panel still screws securely in place. The face plate is very clean, as is the grill cloth. Trem and verb work well, original verb tank from the factory. Had a full maintenance a few years back, replaced all caps necessary, removed death cap and polarity switch, had a 3 prong cable installed. While it does have two sockets for the rectifier tubes, this one was sent out of the factory with a diode plug in one socket and the other left unwired, typical of that period of Sunn as they always aimed to use up whatever they had on hand. This also means it had a factory rating of 150w instead of the earlier 120w. Like many amps of its age, it does have some background hum, though nothing major, and it could be accentuated by the Mesa 12AX7 that's currently in there, as I swapped it to a Tung-Sol 12AX7 to test and the hum was a bit quieter. There is also a Sylvania 12AX7 and US made 6AN8 in the preamp. Currently it's sporting some low-hours Tung-Sol reissue 6550s, which I find to be fantastic tubes (sound nearly identical to the original US ones in one of my 2000s). Apparently my photo files are too large to upload, but are available upon request (hit me with your email and I'll send them over).

Looking for $1400. Located in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA. You can come test it out if you'd like, or I can meet you within a reasonable distance.

I will email you pictures of the heads here's the asking price and a brief description of the heads.

SUNN Coliseum PA serial # DJ567778
Rectifier tubes have been replace with solid state caps
power tubes are 6550 possibly original??
premamp tubes are 12ax7's
This is a '67 or 68'
the 4 and 8ohm jacks tested appropriately
It's a 9 out of 10 as far as it's condition goes some rust on the exterior metal components but in great working condition.
fires right up and this thing truly screams and drips with crazy guitar tone.
$2,800.00


SUNN Coliseum PA serial # unknown
Rectefier tubes have been replaced with weber copper caps.
Power tubes are JJ KT88's
preamp tubes are 12ax7's
This may have been a prototype.
There is an RCA plug on the back panel as well as a 2 extra 1/4" jacks one of which is labeled crudely " LINEOUT"
This output has been tested and does not function as indicated.
EVERYTHING is 10000% in working order with this head as well. tubes were upgraded and biased professionally in 2017.
This one is a 9 out of 10 as well considering its age.
some telex has been taped on the bottom of the unit and the band FLYING CIRCUS from the mid west in the 70's stenciled their name on the top.
Also the power supply is a huge military grey box rather than the stacked iron one on other models this may indicate that this was a prototype. Both speaker jacks tested at 4 and 8 ohms as labelled.
$2,600.00

Sunn MODEL T red knob serial #A21359
This one is in perfect working order with WINO crudely scribed on the back (this was one o Scott "wino" weinrich's model T's that he used in the obsessed/st Vitus/ spirit caravan etc.
This has JJ KT88's and  long plate 12AX7's with gold pins by JJ tubes
This one is in perfect working condition telex is a bit for and scuffed but this thing truly screams!
This is a true relic from the early days of DOOM metal!
$1,600.00

Sunn MODEL T red knob(replaced with silver) Red logo name plate
grill has been painted a tan color.
handles are rubber strap type and not original and have been mounted on the top for making it easier to carry.
This one needs work. Cosmetically its in fair shape. The last time it was plugged in it blew a fuse and one of the caps seems to be bad given that awful burnt smell it let off this one will be discounted because it's not in perfect working condition OR I may just get it repaired and sell it in full working condition. I'm undecided as of right now. But figured I'd list it because it's in need of repair. 
This one has 6550's
and JJ 12ax7's
$875.00 AS-IS

ALL PRICES ARE FIRM no low-ballers and I'm in no rush to sell don't waste my time or yours!

Please message me on here to get my email so I can send you pics in the head you are interested in.

I also have up for sale a 415M replica that I built some years back.
This would be a local only pick up item from Southern California.
I would part with this beast for $675.00 FIRM

Please contact me with relevant question only! Thanks!!!

The drivers have also been replaced. AFAIK, Sunn never used Altec drivers. But the Altec 418B is a superb driver, every bit as good as the JBLs of the era.

As far as I'm aware, while JBLs were the standard premium standard drivers in the early period, a customer could spec just about anything into a cabinet. I've read a few times before that Noel Redding had Altecs mounted in his cabinets from the factory, and have seen a handful of examples.

Yes, it appears that I may be mistaken on that point. Oh, well, I've been wrong before!

Either way the tolex was removed, the front of the cab was upside down (maybe put on upside down after the gill or speakers were replaced) then the Sunn logo was turned right side up in the bottom right corner.  The speakers were not upside down though.  I figured all this out from this forum and a few pics showing me the logo and port were backwards.  Tons of info on this forum and it?s been great to have help with trying to get this cab working.

The drivers have also been replaced. AFAIK, Sunn never used Altec drivers. But the Altec 418B is a superb driver, every bit as good as the JBLs of the era.

As far as I'm aware, while JBLs were the standard premium standard drivers in the early period, a customer could spec just about anything into a cabinet. I've read a few times before that Noel Redding had Altecs mounted in his cabinets from the factory, and have seen a handful of examples.

Yes, it appears that I may be mistaken on that point. Oh, well, I've been wrong before!

The drivers have also been replaced. AFAIK, Sunn never used Altec drivers. But the Altec 418B is a superb driver, every bit as good as the JBLs of the era.

As far as I'm aware, while JBLs were the standard premium standard drivers in the early period, a customer could spec just about anything into a cabinet. I've read a few times before that Noel Redding had Altecs mounted in his cabinets from the factory, and have seen a handful of examples.

Did Ampeg ever use Altec drivers for their larger cabinets? Reason I ask is a friend had an Ampeg cabinet and amp that were stolen maybe 7 years ago locally and they were both re-covered with white tolex of some sort. It isn't a common color to see on amps or speakers since it gets dirty so easily. I wonder if that might be an Ampeg cabinet and someone put a Sunn logo on it to hide the identity and sell it?

Greg

Yes they did, I used to own a B-25 cabinet with 418s in it stock. Can't say it held much of a candle to any of my Sunn cabs, but I put that up to a shallow cabinet design more than the 418s.

To Newtosunn, yes, that appears to be an original cab, likely '67, as Conrad said, either a Spectrum or I believe the PA systems (studio PA) also used the offset cabinets like these.

Making his Motor City debut February 23rd 1968 at Masonic Temple, legendary guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Jimi Hendrix.

Crusty jack sounds like a definite problem area. Before that, though, I'd plug in a speaker cord to it, then take the 9V to the other end of the cord. Put one terminal of the battery on the tip, then touch the other to the sleeve. Again, you should get a pop. If so, then the problem is in the amp. If not, then it's between the plug where you touched the battery and the drivers. Crusty jack is, I think, the most likely place in that case.

Hi Isaac. Thanks for the speaker cord suggestion.   The existing wiring is good.  Both speakers had a nice loud pop and cones moved at the same time on sleeve contact. 

My knowledge of using a cabinet with a head is minimal to say the least.  I?ve always used combos.  Next question is where do I go from here?  I?m no professional but I like new gadgets and toys.  I?ve enjoyed learning about Sunn?s history and I?d really love to see what this cab and drivers can do (assuming and hoping that these speakers are in good shape). 

Loudthud mentioned measuring the resistance with a meter.  Is resistance important in determining what amp will work? Do I slowly work the drivers back into use?   Thanks again to all who have offered their knowledge

This is a question that I constantly keep musing over.  AFAIK, the most powerful commercially available tube-powered instrument amplifier is/was the Mesa Bass 400+.  Assuming you wanted one single head with as many speaker cabinets as needed , what would be the most powerful tube amplifier attainable, built by using currently available components, taking into account weight, size, portability, and most importantly , musicality ?

Reason I ask is I?ve always thought that the 2000S represented the pinnacle of what Sunn could achieve using ultra linear OTs. That is, if you wanted to maintain <1% THD.  Could you achieve 130db or more by doubling up on the transformers ?  Let?s assume a max chassis weight of 200#. Electro-gurus opinions welcome.  I have way too much time on my hands.

actually the Fender 400PS is the most powerful tube amp at 535 watts rms specked out

I have the last of the old NOS Fender had made in the 90?s perfect for 66-71 Sunn amps $50 ea plus shipping